Hostname is the unique name given to a device connected to a network, used to identify and communicate with it. Think of it like your computer's name tag at a networking party filled with servers, printers, and those annoying IoT devices that never shut up about being "smart."

How to use it in a sentence

• I was debugging this issue in production when I realized some genius decided to name the hostname of our main API server "skynet" - no wonder it's trying to take over the world.

• Our lead architect insists on using "dev-box-1", "dev-box-2" for hostnames in the dev environment, as if we're still living in the 90s and creativity is a bug to be squashed.

If you actually want to learn more...

• What is a Hostname? - Hostinger provides a beginner-friendly overview of what a hostname is, how it works, and why it's important. Perfect for those moments when you need to explain it to a non-technical coworker for the umpteenth time.

• Hostname - Wikipedia - The Wikipedia article on hostnames dives deeper into the technical details and standards behind them. Great for when you need to impress (or bore) your fellow engineers with your vast knowledge of networking minutiae.

• How to Set or Change Hostname on macOS - HowToGeek offers a step-by-step guide on changing your macOS device's hostname, for those times when you're feeling a bit more creative than "John's MacBook Pro." Just don't blame me when your clever pop-culture reference becomes outdated in a year.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.